Italy's Wind about to sign non-disclosure agreement over Metroweb -sources

MILAN, May 27 (Reuters) - Italian mobile phone operator Wind is about to sign a non-disclosure agreement with Metroweb shareholders which could be a prelude to buying a stake in the fibre optic network provider or simply end up as a commercial deal, two sources close to the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

The possible cooperation between Wind, a unit of Amsterdam-based phone group Vimpelcom (NasdaqGS: VIP - news) , and Metroweb could also involve the Italian unit of Vodafone, the sources said, adding that any stake acquisition was still far away.

Wind declined to comment.

Metroweb, which is partly state-owned, is seen as a building block for Rome's multi-billion euro plan to roll out a nationwide fibre-optic network.

The plan has stalled due to difficulties in bringing Italy's No. 1 phone group Telecom Italia (Other OTC: TIAJF - news) on board and, according to the sources, the non-disclosure agreement with Wind would not change the picture.

Metroweb shareholders have already signed a similar non-disclosure accord with Vodafone in March. (Reporting by Stefano Rebaudo, editing by Danilo Masoni)